Accra Reset Highlights Resource Certification, Pan-African Payments, and Continental Connectivity
The remarks positioned the Accra Reset as a forward-looking initiative that prioritizes African economic autonomy while promoting broader global stability and shared prosperity.
President John Dramani Mahama used the closing remarks of the Accra Reset side event in Addis Ababa to synthesize proposals aimed at advancing African economic sovereignty, emphasizing the need for immediate action on frameworks that have long remained in discussion.
The high-level gathering, titled Accra Reset’s Addis Reckoning, convened government officials, private sector leaders, international partners, and civil society representatives alongside the 39th African Union Assembly of Heads of State to chart actionable steps toward continental prosperity.
President Mahama highlighted the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a focal point, addressing the ongoing resource curse and supporting certification mechanisms to distinguish minerals extracted for local benefit from those fueling conflict, while pointing to the global demand for DRC minerals as a factor in the region’s challenges.
He stressed the urgent need for intra-African payment systems that reduce reliance on third-party currencies, noting that seamless payment and settlement solutions would allow African businesses to trade directly across borders without currency conversion barriers.
The event also spotlighted emerging continental connectivity, with President Mahama praising initiatives by ASKY Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines that facilitate travel across Africa. He also highlighted new maritime services, including reefer vessels along the West African coast and proposed ferry services connecting major ports from Accra to Lagos to Monrovia, emphasizing that infrastructure development will follow market demand.
President Mahama acknowledged international collaboration, noting that Africa’s prosperity contributes to global economic stability. He also commended Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, for remarks reflecting a Pan-Africanist vision reminiscent of Kwame Nkrumah.
Throughout his address, President Mahama stressed the importance of urgency and implementation, urging African leaders to move from discussion to action.
The remarks positioned the Accra Reset as a forward-looking initiative that prioritizes African economic autonomy while promoting broader global stability and shared prosperity.
